Behind the Best Songs of the Year

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards are this Sunday, and with so many fantastic songs being considered for accolades, we got to thinking, “how do these artists come up with such great tunes?” Thing X talked to some of your (and our!) favorite recording stars to uncover the sources of inspiration behind their Grammy-nominated songs.

Fun, “We Are Young”

Lead singer Nate Ruess says: “I was shopping for a car, and the chorus to this song popped into my head. It totally worked, because I drove off the lot with a new Chevy Sonic.”

Miguel, “Adorn”

Miguel says: “’Adorn’ was inspired by a series of strange dreams I had, much like many of my other songs, including ‘Tryin’ To Eat Those Pancake Umbrellas’ and ‘Napoleon On A Dirt Bike (Mama, Where’s My Underpants?).’”

Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Getting Back Together”

Taylor Swift says: “He died.”

Gotye (Wally de Backer), “Somebody That I Used To Know”

Wally de Backer says: “A few years ago, I was working as Hugo, the mascot for the New Orleans Hornets. I was on the sidelines when they were playing the Boston Celtics, and I guess I tripped and hit my head against Kevin Garnett’s knee. Anyway, that really did some damage to my brain, and ‘Somebody I Used To Know’ is about everyone I’ve forgotten since that night, which is basically everyone. My life is a waking nightmare.”

Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”

Kelly Clarkson says: “Like all of my songs, this one is also based on aphorisms from Nietzsche’s Twilight of the Idols.”

Frank Ocean, “Thinkin Bout You”

Frank Ocean says: "This song was about the Noid from the old Dominoes commercials. I was thinkin’ bout him. What ever happened to that little guy?”

Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”

Carly Rae Jepsen says: “I wanted to enslave humanity and I did.”